8/23 Friday Night Smackdown Coverage

Smackdown opens this week with a video review of what happened between Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, and Triple H at SummerSlam and then again on this past Monday’s Raw. We see the Smackdown opening video, and then go into the arena in Bakersfield, California, where we are joined by Vickie Guerrero, who is already in the ring.

She welcomes everyone to the show, and brings out the new WWE Champion, Randy Orton. Orton says he promised to make everyone aspire to be him and to always tell the truth. He says he told the truth when he said that nobody would see it coming when he cashed in the Money in the Bank contract. He says nobody should be surprised at what happened except for him. He says he didn’t know that Triple H was going to Pedigree Daniel Bryan. He says he is not the type of man to pass up an opportunity like that. He says he didn’t need Triple H’s help at SummerSlam, just like he didn’t need The Shield’s help on Raw. Orton says he appreciates everything the McMahon family has done and asks for the support of the WWE Universe, but he is met with heavy boos and “No!” chants from the crowd. Orton says not only is he the WWE Champion, but his face is also the Face of the WWE. Daniel Bryan’s music hits and he comes to the ring. Bryan says he is going to say what he was going to say on Raw before he was interrupted by Stephanie McMahon. He thanks John Cena for giving him the opportunity to wrestle him at SummerSlam and to become the WWE Champion. He says it’s time for the face of the WWE to change. Bryan says he doesn’t look like Randy Orton. He says Orton is chiseled, tall, and pretty. He says he understands why Triple H likes him. He also calls Orton arrogant and has been handed every opportunity in the WWE because his father and grandfather were in the WWE. Bryan says Orton was given the ‘generic golden ticket’ to be in the WWE. Bryan says he can’t get over how pretty Orton is. Bryan says Orton is so pretty that he wants to kick him in the face, which brings on a “Yes!” chant from the crowd. Bryan says he has had to scratch and claw for every one of his opportunities. Bryan says he is not tall and he is certainly not pretty, but he can wrestle. Bryan says he can beat Orton for the WWE Championship. Bryan says he is entitled a rematch for the WWE Championship, and he wants it tonight. Orton says no and tells Bryan he is going to have to wait until Night of Champions. Orton holds the belt above his head and goes to RKO Bryan, but Bryan shoves him away and dropkicks him over the top rope. Bryan tells Orton to get back into the ring, but Orton backs away and heads up the ramp. Bryan leads the crowd in a “Yes!” chant as then stares down Orton.

We see that Christian and Alberto Del Rio will go one-on-one later tonight. We also see Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman walking backstage. Axel will take on Cody Rhodes after the commercial break.

We’re back and we see Vickie Guerrero talking on the phone backstage. She says someone needs to take care of Daniel Bryan. Wade Barrett walks up. He says he is just like her and the McMahon family; he doesn’t like Bryan. He says if he faces Bryan tonight, he will see to it that we never see Bryan again. Vickie makes the match and makes it a Steel Cage Match.

Match #1: Cody Rhodes vs. Curtis Axel (w/Paul Heyman)
The two men tie up to start the match, but Axel quickly takes control. Axel slams Rhodes down in the ring, but Rhodes gets back up. Axel takes Rhodes and slams him down on the ring apron. Axel walks around on the outside as we head to a commercial.
We’re back and Axel drops a knee to Rhodes in the ring. Axel goes for the cover, but Rhodes kicks out at two. Rhodes comes back and slams Axel down to the mat and goes for the cover, but Axel kicks out at two. Rhodes goes to the top rope and goes for the Moonsault, but Heyman distracts him. Axel takes advantage and slams Rhodes down to the mat and gets the pin fall on Rhodes.Winner: Curtis Axel.
After the match, Heyman grabs a microphone. Heyman says he is in agony because of the actions of CM Punk. He says Punk is washed up and nothing like Axel. Heyman says Axel gets victory after victory after victory and nobody can beat him for the Intercontinental Championship. Axel takes the microphone and says he doesn’t deserve a shot at the title, and he is going to finish the job that Brock Lesnar started. Axel challenges Punk to a match for this coming Monday’s Raw. Axel says he future is brighter than Punk’s, and he has Heyman in his corner.

We are reminded of tonight’s main event: Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett in a Steel Cage Match.

We see Dolph Ziggler, Big E Langston, and AJ Lee walking backstage. Ziggler and Langston will go one-on-one after the commercial break.

Match #2: Big E Langston (w/AJ Lee) vs. Dolph Ziggler
Langston attacks Ziggler before the bell and tosses him around the ring like a rag doll. The referee calls for the bell and Langston tosses Ziggler down to the mat. Langston goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Langston delivers a splash to Ziggler and goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out again. Langston gets Ziggler in a headlock, but Ziggler counters with a jaw-breaker. Ziggler goes to the corner and Langston charges, but Ziggler moves and Langston goes shoulder-first into the ring post. Ziggler takes Langston down with a neck-breaker and then slams Langston down again. Ziggler goes for the cover, but Langston kicks out at two. AJ gets a cheap shot on Ziggler and Langston drops Ziggler with a big clothesline, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Langston goes for the Big Ending, but Ziggler esacpes and delivers the Zigzag and gets the pin fall.Winner: Dolph Ziggler.

We see that Christian and Alberto Del Rio will go one-on-one after the commercial break.

Match #3: Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian
The match starts out pretty evenly, but Christian takes Del Rio to the outside. Christian delivers an uppercut and sends Del Rio back into the ring. Del Rio rolls out on the other side and needs a breather as we head to a commercial break.
We’re back and Del Rio is in control of the match. Del Rio has Christian in the corner and delivers a few chops. Christian fights out and goes to the top rope, but Del Rio shoves him all the way down to the floor. Del Rio goes out after Christian and stomps away on him on the floor. Del Rio tosses Christian back into the ring and goes for the cover, but Christian kicks out at two. Del Rio works over Christian’s arm down on the mat. Christian fights out and comes off the ropes, but Del Rio counters with a back-breaker. Del Rio goes for the cover, but Christian kicks out at two. Del Rio places Christian on the middle rope and goes to splash him, but Christian moves out of the way. Christian delivers the baseball slide dropkick. Del Rio gets back into the ring, but Christian remains in control. Christian delivers a series of right hands in the corner, and then a back-body drop to Del Rio. Christian goes up top and dives off for a cross-body, but Del Rio moves. Del Rio delivers a dropkick and goes for the cover, but Christian kicks out at two. Del Rio delivers a series of headbutts and goes for an enzuiguri in the corner, but Christian moves out of the way. Christian takes Del Rio down with a sunset flip, but Del Rio kicks out at two. Christian goes up top and dives off again, but Del Rio counters again. Del Rio goes for the cross arm-breaker, but Christian rolls through. Christian delivers a tornado DDT and goes for the cover, but Del Rio kicks out at two. Christian goes for the Spear, but Del Rio rolls out of the ring. Christian slaps Del Rio and goes up top, but Del Rio takes Christian down with an enzuiguri. Del Rio goes for the cover, but Del Rio kicks out at two. Del Rio goes to kick Christian in the face, but Christian blocks him. Christian goes for the Killswitch, but Del Rio tosses him into the ring post. Del Rio locks in the cross arm-breaker and Christian taps out.Winner: Alberto Del Rio.
After the match, Del Rio grabs a microphone. He says he knows all the Latinos want to be the next Alberto Del Rio, but they can’t because they’re all peasants. He says they can all still follow him to greatness, however. Ricardo Rodriguez interrupts and says no one wants to follow Del Rio to greatness, especially his new client, Rob Van Dam. Van Dam and Rodriguez walk to the ring and Christian drops Del Rio with a missile dropkick. Van Dam delivers Rolling Thunder to Del Rio and Del Rio rolls out of the ring as Van Dam celebrates with Rodriguez and the World Heavyweight Championship belt.

We take a look back to the confrontation between Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan from earlier tonight as we head to a commercial break.

Match #4: 3-on-2 Handicap Match – 3MB (Drew McIntyre, Heath Slater, and Jinder Mahal) vs. Mark Henry and The Big Show
Show delivers a chop to Slater and then slams him into the corner and tags in Henry. Slater tries to fight away from Henry, but Henry knocks him down with the mat. Henry tosses Slater in the corner and then drops him with a big clothesline. Henry goes to squash Slater, but Slater moves and tags in McIntyre. McIntyre beats down Henry and tags in Mahal. Mahal stomps away on Henry and then tags in Slater. Henry shoves Slater away and Slater tags in McIntyre. Henry tags in Show, who knocks Slater and Mahal to the floor. Show splashes McIntyre in the corner and delivers a chokeslam, but Slater breaks it up. Henry delivers a World’s Strongest Slam to Slater and Show knocks Mahal down again. Show delivers the KO Punch to McIntyre and gets the pin fall.Winners: The Big Show and Mark Henry.
After the match, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins appear on the TitanTron. Rollins says Show clearly didn’t get the message. Rollins says they are going to have a lot of fun knocking him and Henry down again. Reigns says they have no respect for Henry and never will. Rollins says they are better than Henry and Show. Rollins says a new era has dawned and Henry and Show just have to go. Reigns tells them to believe in The Shield.

We see The Prime Time Players walking backstage. Darren Young will go one-on-one with Antonio Cesaro after the commercial break.

Match #5: Antonio Cesaro (w/Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger) vs. Darren Young (w/Titus O’Neil)
Cesaro slams Young down to the mat early on and goes for the Neutralizer, but Young fights out and takes control. Young controls the rest of the match and hits the Gut Check for the victory.Winner: Darren Young.

We see Ryback backstage when someone walks up asking for an autograph for his kid. He makes fun of the kid’s name, but signs it anyway. The guy can’t read it and asks Ryback what the signature says. Ryback gets mad and asks why the guy asked him for an autograph if he didn’t even know who he is. Ryback takes the paper back and rips it up. He throws it in the guys face and we go back into the arena.

Match #6: Steel Cage Match – Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett
They tie up and Barrett backs Bryan into the corner. Bryan fights out and sends Barrett off the ropes, but Barrett changes the momentum. Barrett tries to slam Bryan into the steel cage, but Bryan counters. He kicks Barrett into the corner and delivers a series of right hands. Bryan backs away and charges, but Barrett gets his boot up. Barrett delivers a few right hands down on the mat and then slams him head-first into the steel cage. Barrett goes for the cover, but Bryan kicks out at two. Barrett picks Bryan up and shoves him against the ropes. Barrett charges, but Bryan ducks and Barrett flies into the cage. Bryan takes Barrett to the corner and delivers a series of kicks. Bryan goes over the top of Barrett and comes off the ropes, but Barrett drops him with the Winds of Change. Barrett goes for the cover, but Bryan kicks out at two as we head to a commercial break.
We’re back and Barrett is still in control. Barrett slams Bryan to the mat and goes for the cover, but Bryan kicks out at two. Bryan comes back and delivers two headbutts to Barrett and shoves him against the cage. Bryan delivers three running dropkicks to Barrett while Barrett is against the cage. Bryan goes to escape the cage, but Barrett stops him. Bryan comes off the top rope and delivers a missile dropkick. Bryan goes for the cover, but Barrett kicks out at two. Bryan delivers a series of kicks to Barrett’s chest. Bryan goes for a big kick to the head, but Barrett ducks and slams Bryan against the cage. Barrett takes Bryan down with a big clothesline and goes for the cover, but Bryan kicks out at two. Barrett picks Bryan up and goes for Wasteland, but Bryan holds on to the cage. Barrett clubs Bryan on the back and then drops him down to the mat. Barrett goes for the cover, but Bryan kicks out at two. Barrett climbs the cage and reaches the top, but Bryan stops him. Bryan goes for a suplex from the top rope, but Barrett elbows him down to the mat. Bryan gets back up and slams Barrett to the mat. Bryan delivers a running knee to Barrett’s face and gets the pin fall.Winner: Daniel Bryan.
After the match, Bryan celebrates around the ring. Randy Orton comes out from under the ring and delivers an RKO to Bryan. Orton stands tall over Bryan with the WWE Championship held high overhead as Smackdown comes to a close.